"Hold on, Alfie." Running like the hounds of Hell were nipping at my heels, I sprinted down the fire escape, and ripped Mayan's necklace off.

She clawed at me, biting my arm, so I decked her. Her head lolled back against the dusty street. Unconscious was safer than dead. It may not have been the most optimal overall, but if we broadened the definition of "unharmed" from "not a scratch on her" to "still breathing, thanks to yours truly" then I hadn't broken my promise to Levi. ...